Cigar-moistening apparatus.



J. LITGHFIELD. CIGAR MOISTENING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-24, 1913.

' Patented Oct. 14, 1913.

JAMES LITCHEIELZD, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

CIGAR-MOISTENING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented @et. 14%,1913.

Application filed February 24, 1913. Serial No. 750,151.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J AMES LITOI-IFIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cigar-moistening Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to moistening devices for the treatment of air in show cases and the like, and has for its object an apparatus which is adapted to maintain the humidity necessary to preserve cigars and tobacco in proper marketable condition, and especially in apparatus of this character which shall be of simple and serviceable construction and adapted to be moved into different parts of the show case; and also such a device as shall require but slight adjustment to maintain accurately the proper degree of humidity.

With these and other objects in view as will appear as the description proceeds, my invention consists in the various parts and combinations forming one embodiment thereof as set forth in this specification, for a full understanding of which reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing.

Figure 1 is a cross-section through a show-case, showing my device in end-view and in two different positions, one being in dotted lines; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my apparatus without the lazy-tongs, and detached from the show-case; Fig. 3 is a crosssection along the line III-III of Fig. 2, showing a section through the pipe and one of the trays; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of one of the trays, with its absorbent piece removed.

In the drawing, the numeral 2 shows only conventionally a section through a showcase, such as used for displaying cigars or tobacco, to one of the side walls or partitions of which case my device is intended to be applied. lior conveniently supporting the same I employ a lazy-tongs, as seen at 22, whereby the device may be presented at different positions throughout the case, and thus avoid the humidity attaining a higher degree at some portions than; at others. Mounted at the free ends of the lazy-tongs is a pipe 4: closed at one of its ends, as at 5, this pipe occupying a horizontal position and being provided with a series of openings vertically therethrough for the purpose of accommodating valves 10 which regulate the flow of water through the said openings in the lower wall of the pipe. The valves which I have shown take the form of screws threaded through the openings, and having at their lower ends grooves or channels 8, constituting water-ways the flow of water through which is regulated by the vertical adjustment of the valves 10. At the end of the pipe opposite to the end 5 is provided a glass plug or knob in order that the water-level in the pipe may always be readily observed. At this same end of the pipe is also located an upwardly projecting inlet tube, through which the pipe may be kept supplied with water by any suitable or convenient means.

Beneath each set of three or four valves 10 is suspended a tray 14 for the support of the absorbent material which is kept sufficiently saturated or moistened for dampening the air in the show-case to the required degree. Each tray consists of a skeleton frame of oblong form, having flanges 16 for supporting the absorbent material 18 at the edges of the latter. It is not necessary that the strip of absorbent be of any particular material, but may be felt, asbestos or mineral wool or any other substance having the quality of receiving and holding a limited quantity of water until the same is evaporated. The flanges 16 are all that is required for supporting the absorbent strips, thus leaving practically all of the bottom as well as the upper surface of the strip eX- posed to the air in the case. Across the top of the tray 1A are bars 15, to the middle of which are secured hooks 17. for the purpose of engaging over the pipe 4.

The principle of my apparatus and its operation will now be readily understood. The water enters at the inlet 24;, and its level may always be observed through the transparent end 12, and the water supply renewed from time to time as said level is lowered. The flow through the valves 10. may be nicely adjusted and kept just sutucient to maintain the required supply of moisture in the strips 18. By the use of my device I find that the humidity of the air may be kept uniform throughout the showcase, a better and more even distribution of the moisture being gained by supporting the moistening device at the upper portion of the case, and by supporting the same by some such adjustable means as I have shown the device may be conveniently shifted to different parts of the case and thus insure that every portion thereof shall be subjected to its action.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have produced a very simple and effective means for carrying out the purpose of my invention, and while I have described one form of the same, I reserve the right to such changes and modifications as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a horizontally extending perforated pipe, strips of absorbent material supported beneath the perforations in said pipe, screws extending through the perforations in the pipe and having the portions thereof extending through the lower Wall of the pipe channeled to provide Water-ways, and an inlet supplying Water to said pipe.

2. In a moistening apparatus, a horizontally extending water supply pipe provided with a series of water outlets, and a tray supported beneath said outlets, said tray consisting of a frame having a hook for engaging said pipe and a layer of absorbent material in the body of the frame.

8. In a moistening apparatus, a horizontally extending water supply pipe provided with a series of water outlets, a tray supported beneath said outlets, said tray consisting of a skeleton frame having a flanged bottom edge carrying a strip of absorbent material, and bars across the top of said frame, said bars carrying hooks for engaging said pipe.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES LITOHFIELD. I/Vitnesses H. O. RODGERS, Gr. Y. THoRPE.

Copies of this patent ma; be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

